Friday, September 25, 2009

It's official: Danica is returning to IndyCar for the 2010 season

At least part of the ongoing Danica Patrick saga has come to a definitive close. Patrick has reportedly signed a three-year deal to remain a part of Andretti Green Racing. As before, she will drive the No. 7 sponsored by Motorola. It brings to an end months of speculation on the Indy side of things, but plenty of elements of her 2010 and beyond remain very much up in the air.

Patrick's future has been the subject of debate for years now; while she's not the most talented driver on the Indy circuit, she's unquestionably the best-known and most marketable to a broad audience. And that's exactly why every racing circuit from Indy to NASCAR to soapbox derby racing has coveted her.

Now, still unresolved is whether Patrick will run in NASCAR, as ESPN reported three weeks ago. Since that report, which got far less press than expected, there's been little news on the Danica-in-NASCAR front. Tony Stewart, who was mentioned as a mentor of Patrick, has said Patrick has not signed any kind of NASCAR agreement. (Yet, we could add.)

Regardless of what Patrick decides about NASCAR, the three-year agreement with Andretti Green seems to indicate that she's not going to completely jump ship from Indy. It's a wise move, considering how many open-wheel drivers have challenged NASCAR and fallen short. But then, when it's about Danica, it's not really about wins, is it?

Danica Patrick staying in IndyCar series [Indianapolis Star]

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